1.Cytotoxic Effect of Diphenyltin (IV) Alkylphenyldithiocarbamate Compounds on Erythtroleukemia Cell, K562)
Normah Awang ; Siti Musslihah Shahidi ; Asmah Hamid ; Nurul Farahana Kamaludin
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2013;11(1):25-32
Cytotoxicity of organotin (IV) compounds towards various types of cancerous cells have been extensively studied by researchers worldwide. In this study,two new organotin (IV) compounds; diphenyltin (IV) ethylphenyldithiocarbamate (DFEF) and diphenyltin (IV) butylphenyldithiocarbamate (DFBF) were used to evaluate their cytotoxic effect against erythroleukemia cells, K562. K562 cell was used as target cell whereas Chang liver and V79 fibroblast cells were used to evaluate the effects of both compounds on non-cancerous cells. The cytotoxic effects of both compounds were assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay at 24, 48 and 72 hours using different concentrations. Observations on the morphological changes were carried out with IC50 value for times of exposure similar to the MTT assay test. The cytotoxicity test showed that, DFEF and DFBF compounds were very toxic toward K562 cells with the IC50 values obtained less than 10 μM at all times of exposure. The selectivity index have proven that both compounds exhibited selective cytotoxic effect against K562 cells at 48 and 72 hours, meanwhile at 24 hours, these compounds showed general toxicity towards K562 and non-cancerous cells. We found that both compounds were toxic to non-cancerous cells, Chang liver and V79 cells where the IC50 values were less than 5 μM. Both compounds also showed selectivity to target cell at 48 and 72 hours of exposure. However for 24 hours, these compounds showed general toxicity and non-selective cytotoxic effect towards K562 cells and non-cancerous cells. The morphological changes match with characteristic of apoptosis such as cell shrinkage and formation of apoptotic bodies, also necrosis such as lysis of cells. In conclusion, diphenyltin (IV) alkylphenyldithiocarbamate showed great potential to be a good anti-leukemic agent. However, its specific mechanism of action in K562 cells should be further studied to elucidate its potential as a new anticancer drug
2.The Effectiveness of Diphenyltin(IV) and Triphenyltin(IV) Alkylphenyldithiocarbamate Compounds as Insecticide Against Aedes aegypti LINN.(Diptera: Culicidae) in Laboratory
Normah Awang ; Rosalina Kasim ; Hidayatulfathi Othman ; Nurul Farahana Kamaludin
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2014;12(1):35-39
The development of using insecticide of organotin(IV) compound against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have been explored and
test the effectiveness of compound to prevent resistance insecticide. The aim of this research was to examine the insecticidal
effect which is larvisidal and adulticidal effect two series of diphenyltin(IV) and triphenyltin(IV) alkylphenyldithiocarbamate
compounds against Ae. aegypti in laboratory. Four compounds which diphenyltin(IV) ethylphenylditiocarbamate (DFEF),
triphenyltin(IV) ethylphenylditiocarbamate (TFEF), diphenyltin(IV) butylphenylditiocarbamate (DFBF) and triphenyltin(IV)
butylphenylditiocarbamate(DFBF) were carried out larvicidal bioassay testing against third instar larvae of Aedes aegypti.
Based on activity of larvicidal testing, further study was continued to compound WHO showed the best activity larvicidal
to test adulticide effect against female mosquito adults of Aedes aegypti. The results showed that TFEF compound showed
the best larvicidal effect with LC50 and LC90 values of 0.082 ppm and 0.184 ppm, respectively. Therefore, TFBF compound
showed a good larvicide effect with LC50 and LC90 values of 0.108 ppm and 0.273 ppm respectively. However, both of two
compounds DFEF and DFBF were not a good of larvicide effect. Based on adultisial testing, TFEF compound not showed
good activity of adulticidal effect with high LC50 and LC90 values which is 31,556.03 ppm and 98,427.05 ppm respectively.
TFEF compound not show the good adulticide effect but it has potential to develop as larvicide. In conclusion, further
study was needed to elucidate and ensure this compound will be used safely as larvicide
3.Quality of Public Health Services Received by Immigrant Labours: A Case Study in Klang Valley
Normah Awang Noh ; Haris Abdul Wahab ; Siti Hajar Abu Bakar Ah
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2014;12(1):47-56
Quality is the most important element in the process of production or services produced by organization to its customers.
Quality of service refers to the measure of how a service is delivered matches customer expectations. The study aims to
examine the quality of public health services received by immigrant labours. There are three aspects of quality in public
health services to be measured i.e health service condition, the waiting time for treatment and treatment by hospital staff
on immigrant labours. The result showed a large number of immigrant labours are satisfi ed with the quality of health
services
4.Effect of Paint Exposure Among Paint Workers and DNA Damage: A Scoping Review
Afiqah Saironi ; Normah Awang ; Anuar Ithnin ; Nurul Farahana Kamaluddin ; Farah Wahida Ibrahim ; Kok Meng Chan
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.4):342-353
Paint contains various complex chemical mixtures, such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons (primarily toluene), ketones, and benzene as reported at previous studies. Toxicity from some chemicals can cause early
DNA damage with various factors. A scoping review was conducted via literature review on relevant studies on the
effect of paint exposure on paint workers and DNA damage. A systematic search was conducted in October 2021
via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The key terms used were paint, solvent-based paint, organic
solvent, mixed organic solvent, occupational exposure and DNA damage, oxidative stress, genotoxicity on a painter,
paint worker. From 561 articles, only 13 articles were finally selected based on the inclusion, exclusion criteria, and
eligibility criteria. The literature showed that biomonitoring studies on painters were consistently reporting positive
and significant DNA damage due to exposure to different types of compounds mixed in a paint. However, there were
fewer studies on paint manufacturing factory workers compared to painters while paint manufacturing workers exposed various chemical everyday during the paint production which potentially susceptible to occupational toxicity.
In conclusion, this review suggests that exposure to paints could induce early DNA damage among paint workers
and further investigations on paint exposure among paint manufacturing factory workers and the DNA damage were
needed in order to improve occupational health among paint workers in the future.
5.Indoor Air Quality Assessment in the Office of the Transformer Manufacturing Factory in Selangor, Malaysia
Syazawani Shamsudin ; Nurul Farahana Kamaludin ; Nur Mariam Sazali ; Normah Awang ; Anuar Ithnin
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.5):24-31
Introduction: As humans spend 90% of their time inside, indoor air quality (IAQ) is critical for occupant health. The
primary concern associated with low IAQ is its impact on employees’ health, comfort, and productivity. In accordance with the Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality 2010 (ICOP IAQ 2010), a ten-parameter assessment
was conducted in the office of the transformer manufacturing factory in Selangor, Malaysia. Methods: The measured
parameters are temperature, air movement, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO2
), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (CH2
O), particulate matter (PM10), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), total fungal count (TFC),
and total bacterial count (TBC). This study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches by distributing
questionnaires (N = 42), and measuring the indoor air quality parameters with integrated equipment at selected stations and comparing them to the ICOP IAQ 2010 standard. Results: A majority of the measures, with the exception
of air movement, CO2
, and TBC, complied with the ICOP IAQ 2010 standards. The one-way ANOVA test showed
that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) for the parameters of temperature, PM10, and TVOCs. The ChiSquare test revealed that sleepiness was a symptom of the sick building syndrome, affecting both male and female
employees the most frequently and significantly. Conclusion: Air movement, CO2
, and TBC values that did not meet
ICOP IAQ 2010 requirements revealed poor IAQ at the study site, which could have a negative influence on the employees’ health. To cut down on air pollution, the improvement on the ventilation system should be done to reduce
the risks to the employees’ health.
6.Assessment Of Lung Function Status Of Workers At A Transformer Manufacturing Plant In Selangor, Malaysia
Syazawani Shamsudin ; Nurul Farahana Kamaludin ; Nur Syuhadah Khairiri ; Normah Awang ; Anuar Ithnin
Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine 2020;20(3):92-99
Transformer manufacturing industry uses volatile organic compounds (VOCs) containing materials such as varnish which can cause adverse health effects to human. Exposure to a high level of VOCs could disrupt the normal functions of a human lung.Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the status of lung functions of the workers exposed to VOCs at a transformer manufacturing plant in Selangor. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentration in the office and production area was measured using direct-reading method and 60 subjects were selected to undergo the lung function test. The FVC and FEV1 values showed significant difference (p<0.05) between the exposed group and the non-exposed group. The mean readings of FVC (69.07±12.58) and FEV₁ (72.90±10.46) of the exposed groups were lower than the non-exposed group, which were 81.47±9.78 and 84.23±9.07, respectively. In contrast to the FEV1/FVC parameters, the non-exposed group (102.93 ± 7.17) showed lower mean values than the exposed group (105.90±8.98). Besides that, the nasal symptoms showed significant differences (p<0.05) between the exposed and non-exposed group. The demographic data of the exposed group showed no association with the lung function status of the exposed group workers. However, the lung functions of the exposed group were influenced by the concentration of VOCs in the production area. High concentration of VOCs may cause detrimental effects on the lung functions. Therefore, management or employers in the industry should always be aware of the effects of VOCs, and take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and welfare of the employees.